What Is Glaucoma? – Part 1 of 8

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What Is Glaucoma? Part 1 of 8
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• Glaucoma is a group of conditions that affect the
  eyes. The conditions are all characterized by a
  cupping of the optic disc or a thinning of the
  nerve fiber layer. The result is a visual field
  defect and loss of peripheral vision that can be
  measured by surgeons at Texas Eye and Cataract.
  Glaucoma is a progressive condition that is
  behind most cases of irreversible blindness in
  the world.

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What are the Types of Glaucoma?

• Glaucoma is classified into two types, Primary
  Glaucoma and Secondary Glaucoma. Glaucoma is
  classified as being Primary when theres no known
  underlying disease or medical condition causing
  it. Primary glaucoma is the most common type in
  the US. In some cases, glaucoma is also caused
  because of another medical condition which is
  called secondary glaucoma.

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1. Open-Angle Glaucoma

• Open-angle glaucoma accounts for at least 90 of
  glaucoma cases in the United States. Experts do
  not know the exact cause of open-angle glaucoma
  but it may be caused by pressure build-up in the
  eye because of slow clogging of the drainage
  canal. The angle between the iris and corneas is
  wide open in this type hence the term
  Open-angle. Over time, the increased pressure
  in the eye damages the optic nerve and eventually
  leads to loss of vision. The symptoms and damage
  caused by this type of glaucoma are not noticed
  until patients start losing a substantial portion
  of their vision. People with high blood pressure
  are at higher risk of developing this type of
  Glaucoma.

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2. Angle-Closure Glaucoma

• Angle-closure glaucoma is acute glaucoma that
  calls for immediate action. The symptoms for
  Angle-closure glaucoma include intense pain in
  the eye, red eyes, blurred vision, and nausea. It
  is important to immediately go to the emergency
  room if you experience any of these symptoms.
  Pressure in the eye is rapidly increased due to
  the blocking of fluids from draining out. If not
  treated, it can cause irreversible blindness in
  just a few days.

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3. Other Types

• There are several other types of glaucoma that
  may occur due to some underlying medical
  condition. The medical conditions include
  inflammation, use of steroids, advanced cases of
  cataract, injury to the eye, and diabetes. Such
  medical conditions may lead to several types of
  glaucoma including Exfoliative Glaucoma,
  Neovascular Glaucoma, Pigmentary Glaucoma,
  Uveitic Glaucoma, and Traumatic Glaucoma.

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Consult Today

• Each type of glaucoma is different and most of
  them do not exhibit early symptoms. It is
  recommended to get regular checkups from an
  experienced ophthalmologist, especially if you
  fall in the higher-risk category. To consult a
  specialist in and around Texas, Texas Eye and
  Cataract can help. Our team of highly-skilled and
  experienced eye surgeons specializes in treating
  a wide array of eye conditions including glaucoma
  and cataract. If you would like to schedule an
  eye doctor consultation or get answers to any
  questions related to glaucoma, call 469-505-2020
  or email info_at_teceyecare.com.